Rising Big-Ticket Orders Hint
At a Manufacturing Recovery

The second consecutive monthly rise in sales of durable goods and an uptick in consumer optimism, both reported today, are encouraging bits of news for the U.S. economy, as far as they go.

The Commerce Department said new orders for appliances, cars and other goods meant to last at least three years rose 1%, or $1.7 billion, to $174 billion, following a 2.6% rise in June. This was the first significant back-to-back monthly increase since 2001, and was accompanied by a surge in shipments and by a decrease in manufacturers'...